Cheaper way to treat septic water introduced

WATER TREATMENT. Merlinda A. Palencia, a professor from Adamson University, explains the benefits of “Virgomin” to both humans and the environment. Virgomin, an eco-friendly septic water treatment, is one of the products and technologies exhibited on Tuesday, Dec. 13, during the Mindanao-wide Technology Transfer Day held at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City. (Robby Joy Salveron/davaotoday.com)

By Robby Joy Salveron, Intern

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Scientists here introduced a chemical that would “clean” the septic tank and curb water pollution.

“Vigormin is an odor-free and low-cost mixture of natural and organic minerals that neutralizes septic water color and is meant to lessen water pollution,” Adamson University Professor Merlinda Palencia said during Tuesday’s Mindanao-wide Technology Transfer Day held at the SMX Convention Center.

Vigormin “promotes natural, odor-free, safe and easy way” of treating septic water. She narrated that it was out of need to develop a product to treat “estero” (inlet canal) water since all the wastes from the barangays were dumped in the canals.

“During the time of Yolanda, there were several bunkhouses that have untreated and insufficient septic water treatment facilities,” Palencia said.

In 2013, the product was tested in Palo, Leyte. Eventually, it was “tested and proven that the product can be used for effective septic water management system.”

“By application of Vigormin we were able to convert the yellowish and dirty water into class C water and we were able to reuse the water. It can be applied as fermigation (fertilizer and irrigation) to different gardens within the community,” she said.

The product is funded by Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

A pilot plant is now being set in Tanauan, Batangas.

Vigormin is just one of the 74 newly developed technologies from different institutes around the country that were exhibited.

“I think that justifies a big amount of expenditure to research on interventions that will at least prepare us better or mitigate the effects of disaster. We need to adopt very innovative technologies,” he said.

He stressed that because of the government’s Technology Transfer programs, they were able to break the barrier between researchers and stakeholders.

“Before, they’re (researchers) afraid to release information. But now with the Technology Transfer Act, we are fully implementing, they’re coming out in the open,” he said.

“We are inviting potential investors. For commercial concept we hope to set up here in Mindanao. We can address the problem of water pollution now. We need everybody’s cooperation and support so that we can promote, clean and safe environment for our future generation,” Palencia said.

Apart from the Tech Transfer, Dela Peňa mentioned that they are focusing on capacitating researchers, especially the young ones, for them to be able to participate in research and development programs.

“We would like to remedy that situation by also strengthening research building capability by looking on several universities in the region to give grants on young researchers,” he said.(davaotoday.com)

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